3. Annual Health Check: Training

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People with learning disabilities often have difficulty in recognising illness, communicating their needs and using health services. Research shows that regular health checks for people with learning disabilities often uncover treatable health conditions. Most of these are simple to treat and make the person feel better, while sometimes serious illnesses such as cancer are found at an early stage when they can be treated.

The Annual Health Check is also a chance for the person to get used to going to their GP practice, which reduces their fear of going at other times.

The practice providing this service must attend an education session. The training is led by Learning Disability Strategic Health Facilitators in partnership with self-advocates.

The training should be completed by healthcare professionals before health checks are conducted. Training must be completed by year end.

At a minimum, participating staff should include the lead General Practitioner (GP) for learning disability, lead Practice Nurse and Practice Manager/Senior Receptionist. Care co-ordinators and pharmacy staff would also benefit.

Content:

identification of patients with learning disabilities and clinical coding

the range and increased health needs associated with learning disabilities

what an annual health check should cover

information that should be requested prior to an annual health check

adjustments the practice might need to make to facilitate good uptake, effectiveness and access to the health check

health action plans

overcoming barriers.

See the belowfor current dates or contact the Learning Disability Strategic Health Facilitation (SHF) Team.